A letter from the founder
I’m a dad of four boys.
Like a lot of parents, I’ve missed bedtimes. Work trips. Late meetings. Nights when I wanted to read a bedtime story, but couldn’t be there.
At the same time, I watched kids’ content get louder, faster, and more addictive. Endless autoplay. Flashing animations. Algorithms designed to keep little eyes glued to a screen.
ScreenHugs was built as a different option.
No ads. No algorithm. No strangers.
Just a familiar face reading a story.
Because when a child opens an app, I don’t want them to see an influencer or a cartoon character. I want them to see someone who loves them. I want them to hear a voice they recognize. I want the experience to feel calm, intentional, and human.
We don’t optimize for attention. We optimize for connection.
ScreenHugs is simple on purpose. The illustrations don’t compete with your voice. There’s no endless scroll. No overstimulation. Just page-by-page storytelling. Like sitting together with a real book.
If we do this right, ScreenHugs becomes more than an app. It becomes a collection of moments. A small archive of bedtime stories, encouragement before a big day, “I love you” messages that can be replayed years from now.
If you’re part of our beta, thank you.
You’re not just testing software. You’re helping build a different kind of technology, one that strengthens families instead of fragmenting attention. And that matters.
Thanks for taking this journey with me.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the books so simple…no animations or sound effects?
Because your voice is the feature. Most children’s content competes for attention with movement, music, and stimulation. ScreenHugs intentionally removes those layers so kids can focus on story, language, and connection. It’s designed to feel like sitting together with a book, not watching a show.
Isn’t this still screen time?
Yes, but not all screen time is the same. There’s a difference between passive consumption and relational engagement. When a child opens ScreenHugs, they see someone who loves them. That changes the experience.
Why not just FaceTime or send a video?
FaceTime is live and fleeting. Texted videos get buried. ScreenHugs creates a reusable keepsake. Stories are organized in a simple, child-friendly library and presented page by page, just like a real book. They can be replayed anytime, even when schedules or time zones don’t align.
Who is ScreenHugs for?
Traveling parents. Military families. Co-parenting households. Long-distance grandparents. Busy professionals who miss bedtime. Or regular families who love creating memories together!
What ages is ScreenHugs best for?
Primarily ages 0-8, when voice, repetition, and shared reading have the greatest impact on language development and emotional bonding.
Is ScreenHugs safe?
Yes. There are no ads, no public feeds, no algorithmic recommendations, and no strangers. Stories are shared privately within your invited family circle.
What if I’m not good on camera?
Your child doesn’t hear what you hear. They hear comfort. Familiarity. Love. The imperfect pauses and laughter are what make it real.
What’s the bigger vision?
We believe technology should strengthen families, not fragment attention. If ScreenHugs works the way we hope, it becomes more than an app. It becomes:
-A literacy tool
-A family archive
-A collection of moments that last
Why is there a subscription?
Because we don’t monetize attention or sell data. The subscription supports secure video storage and continued development, without compromising the experience with advertising or tracking.